aswatland
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,338
- Location
- Kent, England
Review of ELC Devon Fleece RAF Jacket size 44
This a recent version of the 1944 ELC Devon Fleece Irvin and is a significant improvement on the earlier version which had very thick skins and a somewhat wiry fleece. The sheepskin is very flexible and comfortable to wear and not at all itchy! The other details have not changed. Eastman still use their Lightning style zips, which are fine, but it is a shame they don't use a Dot style puller on for the main zip, which would be more accurate with the Dot style slider bucket.
The jacket has been given the Timeworn treatment and it has not been over done. The chestnut finish to the skins is accurate. The fleece itself is identical to many wartime originals.
I have replaced the belt buckle with an original one as I find the prongs on Eastman buckles to be too thick and blunt at the end! The left hand belt loop is still placed too far away from the main zip to secure the male end of the belt which meant that I had to add an extra leather loop to the belt to stop the end of the belt from flopping around! An easy solution would be for ELC to make their jackets with longer belts.
The configuration of the panels is accurate as there were many later War jackets made in this way, but from recycled flying trousers. The label is an accurate copy of a mid to later War AM contract label.
I have been wearing this jacket quite a bit recently when not wearing my ELC Perry B-3 and really like it. These jackets are not available to buy new from Eastman until they are re-supplied with Devon fleece.
This a recent version of the 1944 ELC Devon Fleece Irvin and is a significant improvement on the earlier version which had very thick skins and a somewhat wiry fleece. The sheepskin is very flexible and comfortable to wear and not at all itchy! The other details have not changed. Eastman still use their Lightning style zips, which are fine, but it is a shame they don't use a Dot style puller on for the main zip, which would be more accurate with the Dot style slider bucket.
The jacket has been given the Timeworn treatment and it has not been over done. The chestnut finish to the skins is accurate. The fleece itself is identical to many wartime originals.
I have replaced the belt buckle with an original one as I find the prongs on Eastman buckles to be too thick and blunt at the end! The left hand belt loop is still placed too far away from the main zip to secure the male end of the belt which meant that I had to add an extra leather loop to the belt to stop the end of the belt from flopping around! An easy solution would be for ELC to make their jackets with longer belts.
The configuration of the panels is accurate as there were many later War jackets made in this way, but from recycled flying trousers. The label is an accurate copy of a mid to later War AM contract label.
I have been wearing this jacket quite a bit recently when not wearing my ELC Perry B-3 and really like it. These jackets are not available to buy new from Eastman until they are re-supplied with Devon fleece.
Last edited: